Finding Home Care in Alabama

Home care or senior home care in Alabama is provided by senior home care agencies. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, home health aides, home attendants, social workers, and therapists can provide home health care services. Senior home care is an option for someone that needs help around the house cleaning, cooking, and managing medications or for someone who needs consistent medical care. Senior care aides can help for a few times a week or 24 hours a day. The point is to keep seniors in their homes and allow them to be as independent as possible. There are about 555 agencies in Alabama and the median monthly cost is around $3,146.

Home Care in Alabama - Cost Comparison

For seniors who may be recovering from an illness, surgery, or who just need assistance in their homes, this care type can be the solution. Hiring a home care aide is a way to provide professional help for you or your loved one, ranging from bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, and general hygiene, to performing instrumental tasks like housekeeping, general shopping, transportation or meal preparation. Depending on if a caretaker is a licensed medical professional or a non-medical paraprofessional, your costs will vary in accordance with the specific services provided.

There are a number of cities throughout Alabama that have senior home care agencies but the median monthly costs range from:

Highest cost: Birmingham area $3,432

Lowest cost: Dothan $2,860

City

Homemaker Services Monthly Costs

Home Health Aide Monthly Costs

Anniston

$3,003

$3,003

Birmingham

$3,241

$3,432

Dotham

$2,860

$2,955

Florence

n/a

$3,051

Mobile

$3,146

$3,241

Montgomery

$2,908

$2,908

Recreation & Attractions in Alabama

Alabama has many museums, historical landmarks, and attractions that could prove to be a great way to explore while getting acquainted with a new home. The state also boasts many historical landmarks such as the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Civil Rights Memorial and other sites dedicated to the civil rights movements. Mobile Bay is located along the Gulf of Mexico with many beaches and historic areas surrounding it; the beautiful coastline is beachside getaway waiting to happen!

Alabama's Climate, Geography & Culture

The climate in Alabama has four seasons with a mild winter. The summer is hot with average high temperatures around 91 degrees and the winter low temperature is 34 degrees. An average of 56 inches of rain and 1 inch of snowfall annually. With the combination of high humidity during the summer and 213 days of sunshine throughout the year, the climate can, at times, feel uncomfortable and sticky. Lightweight clothing and rainwear should be worn during the summer and heavier clothing for winters and mountainous areas. A light jacket is recommended for the spring, fall, and evenings.

Alabama’s culture is heavily tied to both the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. The state is filled with civil rights history, music, and fine cuisine that includes delicious barbecue and fresh seafood. Around the world, many of us have heard Lynard Skynard's hit Sweet Home Alabama. Alabama's music culture includes blues, country and jazz music played in their bars. Near Mobile, AL, you can eat fresh seafood from the fishing village in Bayou La Batre, which was featured in the 1994 film Forrest Gump.

Crime & Safety in Alabama

FBI Crime Report data shows that the average violent crime rate of Alabama’s 30 safest cities is actually 55% less than the national average. Margaret, Helena, and the city of Southside come in as the top three safest places to consider when choosing home care or another care option for you or your loved one. It’s important to be aware of the surrounding area for the sake of your loved one’s peace of mind and the safety of any visitors or family.

Location

Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Margaret

0.22

6.68

Helena

0.64

10.18

Southside

1.06

12.33

Mountain Brook

3.9

14.77

(source: safewise.com)

Alabama's Home Care Regulations & Laws

Medicare-certified home health agencies are required by federal legislation (42 CFR 484.36) to only employ health aides who are trained and evaluated by programs approved by their respective states. A total of 34 states and the District of Columbia require the minimum federal standard of 75 hours of training, along with 16 hours of supervised practical or clinical training and 12 hours of additional education every 12 month period. Federal regulations also outline the qualifications for approved trainers and define the competency evaluation process in tangent with state specifications.

Payment Options for Alabama Home Care

Paying for home care is possible through a variety of different methods, with some more financially plausible than others. After you’ve determined the general price of home care near you, understanding how to pay is next.

To start, Medicare does not pay for home care aides, and only covers medical home health care very selectively. The benefits of medicare just do not apply to non-medical care, period. Regardless, Medicare Supplemental Insurances do cover Medicare copayments and deductibles for medical home care, as long as it is determined to be necessary.

Next, U.S. veterans can receive assistance for home care through benefits like the Improved Pension or Homebound and Aid & Attendance Pension. To apply you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging.

Paying privately is also an option for many seniors through several methods. Besides paying with one’s own savings, seniors may choose to pay with a reverse mortgage, by opening a home equity line of credit, or by converting their life insurance policies. Long-term care insurance may also be a reasonable option if purchased earlier in life.

Finally, Medicaid is an insurance program for low-income seniors and their families that can be used to pay for non-medical home care, home health care, and other home support programs. Since Medicaid rules are state-specific, your eligibility and benefits will change based on location. Care received outside of a nursing home is generally referred to as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).

Senior & Elderly Rights for Home Care in Alabama

As a senior receiving home care from a Medicare-approved home health agency, you retain various guaranteed rights and protections. When you start with your care, it is required that the home health agency’s caretaker must provide you with a written copy of your rights. Firstly, you are entitled to choose your own home health agency, although if you are on a managed care plan your choices may be fewer. Caretakers are to treat you and your personal property with respect at all times, minding your preferences for privacy when necessary. You are also encouraged to make decisions about the services medical or non-medical you are to receive.

If there comes a point when you are unable to make decisions regarding your own medical care, you have the right to entrust this responsibility to a family member or legal guardian. Remember, you also retain your Constitutional rights and those afforded to you by the Bill of Rights as a citizen of the United States. If you believe that you have experienced a violation of your rights, do not hesitate to contact a lawyer familiar with elder law or have someone advocate for you.

Alabama Home Care: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

As a senior receiving home care in Alabama you have the right to obtain copies of your medical records by submitting a request to your healthcare provider. Although health care workers may mistakenly argue that these records cannot be released due to privacy laws, this is a common misconception. Even if they ask, you don’t need to provide a reason for the request. You will likely be charged a fee and the request may be required in writing, but your records belong to you.

This protected health information will detail information relating to your physical and mental health, including medical records, billing records, claims adjudication records, and other documents used in making decisions about your health care. In some cases, your information can take up to 30 days to be fully processed and available to you, with healthcare providers allowed one extension of an additional 30 days. If this limit is exceeded, you must be provided with a written statement as to why the delay occurred.

Finding the perfect senior care community is only part of making your loved one’s senior living transition smooth. At SeniorCaring, we know that it is also equally important to be aware of what other community services and resources are available to your family’s senior. Choose your location and find local resources for your senior.